Chapter 5 Research Methods in Studying Abnormal Behavior PDF

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR EXAMINING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Research Quantitative Methods...

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR EXAMINING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Research Quantitative Methods General Framework: Basic Components of Research Seek to confirm hypotheses about Hypothesis A specific, testable statement phenomena (“mean- proposing a potential explanation Instruments use a more rigid style making”) or prediction for a particular of eliciting and categorizing phenomenon responses to questions A tentative explanation for (a Use highly structured methods, group of) phenomena, (a set of) such as questionnaires, surveys, facts, or a scientific inquiry that and structured observations may be tested, verified, or Objectives: answered by further investigation To quantify variation or methodological experiment To predict causal relationships Hypothesis A systematic procedure for To describe characteristics of a Testing deciding whether the results of a population research study support a particular Question format: theory which applies to a Close-ended population. Hypothesis testing Data format: uses sample data to evaluate a Numerical hypothesis about a population. Flexibility in Study Design Study design is stable from beginning to end Participant responses do not influence or determine how and which questions researchers ask Study next Variables Study design is subject to statistical assumptions and conditions Validity Validity refers to how accurately a Qualitative method measures what it is intended to General Framework: measure Seek to explore phenomena 1. Internal Validity Features Instruments use a more flexible, a. Shows if a study measures what interactive style of eliciting and it intends to measure categorizing responses to b. Focused on control of questions extraneous variables Use semi-structured methods, c. Establishes a cause-and-effect such as in-depth interviews, focus relationship groups, and participant 2. External Validity Features observation a. Assesses if a study can be Objectives: generalized To describe variation b. Focus on the relevance of the To describe and explain causal study sample relationships c. Determines applicability to real- To describe individual world settings characteristics or group norms Question format: Open-ended Data format: Textual Flexibility in Study Design  ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Some aspects of the study are causal flexible relationship. Participant responses affect how Nonexperimental Is there a To demonstrate and which questions researchers relationship a relationship ask next between the between Study design is iterative, that is, two variables? variables by data collection and research showing a questions are adjusted according difference to what is learned between groups of scores Correlational Is there a To measure and Basic Mixed Methods Research Designs relationship describe the between the relationship two variables? between two variables without attempting to explain the cause of the relationship Descriptive What is the To describe the current status variables in of individual their current variables for a state Characteristics of the Five Categories of Research specific group Strategy of individuals? Strategy Type of Purpose Research Questions STUDYING INDIVIDUAL CASES Experimental Is there To demonstrate evidence of a and explain the Case Study cause-and- relationship A method used in investigating intensively one or effect between two more individuals who display behavioral and relationship variables. physical patterns between two Specifically, to One of the most famous case studies, documenting variables? show that psychoanalyst Josef Breuer’s treatment of “Anna O” changes in on variable cause (real name Bertha Pappenheim) for hysteria in the changes to late 1800s using early psychoanalytic theory occur in a CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH second variable Quasi- Is there To obtain Correlation Experimental evidence of a evidence of a Measures the strength and direction of a relationship cause-and- cause-and- between variables without manipulation of any effect effect relationship relationship; variables between two however a An issue in interpreting the results of a correlational variables? quasi- study is the inability to conclude whether A cases B, experimental whether B causes A, or whether some third variable, study cannot C, causes both. unambiguously establish a  ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Epidemiological Research EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH Experimental Study Involves the manipulation of an independent variable and the observation of its effects on the dependent variable Aims to establish the causal link between independent and dependent variables EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESEARCH Epidemiology Basic science of public health Study of the distribution and determinants of disease or other health-related outcomes in human populations, and the application of that study to Quasi-experimental Experimental design controlling health problems design Characteristic 1 Characteristic 1 Subjects are Subjects are assigned to groups randomly assigned with a non-random to groups method Characteristic 2 Characteristic 2 The researcher Researchers often usually designs the don’t have control treatment over the treatment Characteristic 3 (pre-existing groups) Requires the use of Characteristic 3 control and Control groups aren’t treatment groups mandatory  ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Major Methods of Data Collection Family Studies Twin Studies Adoption Studies Studies aimed Studies of Concerned with at detecting the twins— the question, Basic Research Designs presence or identical “Are adopted absence of (monozygotic) children more familial and fraternal similar to aggregation for (dizygotic)— biological the disease or reared apart or parents to trait reared together adoptive parents?” Cross Sectional, Longitudinal, and Sequential Research: Pros and Cons STUDYING GENETICS  ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Importance of Replication in Research Replication research refers to the process of repeating a study to enhance the credibility and generalizability of research findings in the field of social sciences. The strength of a research program is in its ability to replicate findings in different ways to build confidence in the results. ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN RESEARCH The Belmont Report Published in 1979 by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and  ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR Behavioral Research, which provides a basis for ethnically conducting human subjects’ research Made up of three core principles o Respects for Persons – giving people the right and capacity to make their own decisions o Beneficence – minimizing potential harms and maximizing benefits o Justice – distributing benefits and risks fairly BASIC ETHICAL PRINCPLES Autonomy Respecting an individual’s freedom to make their own decisions Beneficence Active in the best interest of the individual; providing benefit Non- Avoiding and doing no harm to the INFORMED CONSENT maleficence individual A person’s voluntary agreement to participate in a Justice Treating all individuals with fairness, procedure based on their understanding of its equality, and impartiality nature, its potential benefits and possible risks, and available alternatives. A fundamental requirement of research with humans wherein participants voluntarily sign document/s prior to the start of a study after having been fully informed about the nature of the study Institutional Review Board (IRB) An administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the institution with which it is affiliated Charged with the responsibility of reviewing, prior to Rights of Research Participants its initiation, all research (whether funded or not) Research Right Description involving human participants Protection Participants have the right to be from harm protected from physical or Concerned with protecting the welfare, rights, and psychological harm in research. If in privacy of human subjects doubt about the harmful effects of Has the authority to approve, exempt, disapprove, research, investigators should seek monitor, and require modifications in all research the opinion of others. When harm activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified seems possible, investigators by both the federal regulations and institutional should find other means for obtaining the desired information or policy abandon the research. Informed All participants, including children consent and the elderly, have the right to have explained to them, in a language appropriate to their level  ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 5 – RESEARCH METHODS IN STUDYING ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR of understanding, all aspects of the “Do good (beneficence) and do no harm (non- research that may affect their maleficence) are paramount to any research activity” willingness to participate. When children are participants, informed consent of parents as well as of others who act on the child's behalf (such as school officials) should be obtained, preferably in writing. Older adults who are cognitively impaired should be asked to appoint a surrogate decision maker. If they cannot do so, then someone should be named by an institutional review board (IRB) after careful consultation with relatives and professionals who know the person well. All participants have the right to discontinue participation in the research at any time. Privacy Participants have the right to conceal their identity on all information collected in the course of research. They also have this right with respect to written reports and any informal discussions about the research. Knowledge of Participants have the right to be results informed of the results of research in a language that is appropriate to their level of understanding. Beneficial If experimental treatments believed treatments to be beneficial are under investigation, participants in control groups have the right to alternative beneficial treatments if they are available. Statements Abnormal psychology as in other areas of psychology rely on scientific methods in studying abnormal behavior. “Responsible psychological research is aimed at advancing our understanding of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in ways that will ultimately benefit humanity” (Myers & Hansen, 2011) “Correlation, though predicts a statistical relationship between two variables, does not imply causation”. The motto of science could be “Show Me Again.” “Ethics is at the core of every discipline…. All research involves ethical considerations. Safety and welfare guide our activities, whether we work with animals or humans.”